Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-03-24

fore left without telling her how dearly
l worshiped at her shrine. / was in
vited to repeat my visit, and when Miss
Rosemond added that she would be de-
lighted to meet me again, l almost felt
like laying bare my thoughts.
When l got home it began to dawn
upon me that l had not acted in the
most honorable manner toward
Nellie, but l assured myself that no
one could have resisted the temptation.
There was but one course for me to
pursue. and that was to go straight to
my first love and confess to her my
weakness; to acquaint her OF the fact
that another had found place within
my heart, and beg her pardon for car
rying matters to this extreme. This
resolve was much more easily made
than carried out. At least so found
it.
| went direct to her home to advise
her of my change of base. She had
been anxiously watching and waiting
for me, and opened the door for me.
Bright smiles, pretty dimples and
pleasant words shook my determine
ton. l could not withstand them.
When looked at her my old love
seemed to return. And then, again,
another vision would pass before me.
What should | do? / could not tell
her that did not love her. Her
frank, clear eyes looked me in the face
and seemed to pierce my guilty
thoughts. l did not know whether l
really loved her or not. l was surely
in a dire dilemma.
l was not very good company that
evening. My brain was teeming with
"Shall tell her or shall l notP" She
played and sang several of my favorite
selections, and when she had finished
asked me how l liked them. | had
been so occupied with my thoughts
that for moment the question startled
me. | finally replied good" in me-
chanical manner. Nellie knew by my
actions that something was wrong, but
in patience bore with me. She looked
panied, and tiny tear glistened in her
lustrous orbs. After a few moments of
silence l bid her goodnight in the SIM
plest kind of manner.
My mind was in a terrible state.
When l reached my room determined
to find solution of the vexcd ques-
ton in a cloud of Havana smoke. |
pulled fiercely; bit the end of my cigar
in vehement manner. Invent to bed,
reasoning that on the morrow l would
regain my mental balance and
be able to decide whom | loved. You
may make light of this and say that it
is unnatural, but | assure you that the
old adage, "Truth is stranger than fic-
tion," will hold good in this case.
had dream that night. Here is the
substance of it:
was once more at the home of my
friend Brown, and grand tete had
been arranged in honor of Miss Rose
mond. 1t was to take the form of a
reception, and l was to urge my suit
and if possible bring it to successful
climax-to push myself forward on
every available occasion, and success
was sure to crown my efforts in the
end. So | figured and SO did Joe
But to do this was no easy task. In
her gentle way she would remind mt
that l was sighting the rest of the
company and paying too much atten-
ton to her, and then she would Gid,
away on the arm of some one else
She could not help but notice that
was completely taken away with her
A blind person could have seen that
After some difficulty / obtained hel
consent to stroll in the conservatory
the nook in which all lovers exchang,
VOWS; where troths are plighted anC
futures planned. Here, midst daint,
odors and sweet fragrance, l decided
! t",lcSrn 1ny fatoe. And l did. l wa
accepted. Joyous moment! 1t wa
too good to be true! After a few low
ing words and the usual seal to docu
ment of this kinda kiss-we emerge,
from our bower. and it seemed to m
every body must have seen by m,
smiling face what had TRANSFERRED
But the evening was not Il
pass by to my utter satisfac
ton. After our engagement sh
seemed to avoid me more than ever
and every time L asked to dance witt
her she would show me her card wit
some gentleman's name opposite ever
dance, and explain by saying that MI
So-and-So was such an excellen
dancer, and she could not resist tn
temptation. l did not like it bit, bu
of course it would not do to quarrel a
the beginning of our engagement. TIL
result was that | did not have an OF
portunity of dancing with her the res
of the evening. This hurt me an
wounded my pride. Atlast l could re
frain myself no longer, and l sough
, her out and in mild manner aske
for an explanation. Without going in
to details, Twill say that when brough
/ to bay found her high spirited, an
that our interview ended in quarre
And then l awoke. But it was sti
dark, and so tossed about in sem
conscious state with a terrible heat
/ ache-then all was blank.
When l opened my eyes the sun wa
| streaming in the window; brigl
plumaged birds carroled joyously witt
out and all nature seemed gay an
lovely. But what was the matter wit
t me? | was weak-so weak that l ha
: not even strength to turn. What W;
: the meaning of that stand near Il
7 bedside and all those ugly bottles? an
there in the center stood a large boz
| quet Of beautiful flowers. Surely